Waterford businesses can now apply for grant supports of up to €25,000
The supports are aimed at making workplaces more inclusive for people with disabilities under the new Work and Access Programme
Businesses and employers across Waterford can now apply for a range of grant supports aimed making workplaces more inclusive for people with disabilities under the new Work and Access Programme announced by government today, with up to €25,000 available for workplace adaptations.
The programme has been warmly welcomed by Dep. Marc Ó Cathasaigh, who is the Green Party’s spokesperson on Social Protection:
"One of the worrying statistics that we often hear discussed at the Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection, of which I’m the vice-chair, is the fact that Ireland has one of the lowest labour force participation rates for people with a disability across the OECD.
"This has all sorts of implications, from social inclusion to poverty rates among disabled people, not to mind the huge untapped potential that is there for employers to unlock.
"The Work and Access Programme is aimed at removing some of the barriers that people with disabilities face when they try to enter the labour force.
"The Needs Assessment will help employers figure out the measures they need to undertake to make their workplace more accessible and inclusive. Adaptation grants of up to €25,000 will then be available to carry out those changes.
"A more diverse and inclusive workplace is good for business and good for employees. I very much hope these supports will encourage Waterford businesses to make positive strides in this direction."
Work and Access offers seven key supports:
- Workplace Needs Assessment Grants of up to €2,500 are available to enable people with a disability or health condition to identify the supports they need in their workplace to do their job.
- Workplace Adaptations Grants of up to €25,000 are available to support employers with funding to adapt their business premises for an employee or future employee with a disability.
- Work Equipment Grants of up to €12,000 are available towards personalised assistive equipment or technology for people with disabilities working in the business premises or working remotely.
- Personal Reader funding is available to assist people who are blind or visually impaired with work-related reading.
- Communication support which funds help with job interviews, job inductions, in-work meetings or performance reviews.
- In-Work Support funding is available towards a work coach or specialist support to help a person with a disability to do their job or re-train if they move to another position.
- Disability Equality and Inclusion Training funding is available for employers with a paid workforce to train all their staff on disability and inclusion.
Launching Work and Access, Minister Humphreys said:
"I strongly encourage employers to consider how the new Work and Access Programme can support them to make their workplaces better environments for staff with disabilities. All that is required to make a difference in someone’s life is to give them a chance.
"Investing in others works. It works for business and it works for the person with a disability. Work and Access provides a wide range of practical supports that I believe will make a real and positive difference in people’s lives."
Work and Access is now open for applications. Full information on how to apply is available at: gov.ie/workandaccess .
You can also contact your local Intreo centre or email [email protected]